Upcoming + Annual Events in and Around Beacon - Places to Go, Things To Do You Don't Want to Miss



If you feel like you're the last to know everything, then bookmark this page and synch it into your calendar, because you're about to be on top of where to go and what to do in and around Beacon, NY and the Hudson Valley. If you have an event you'd like to submit for consideration, please email editorial@alittlebeaconblog.com.

Once an event passes, it will be moved to the bottom of this page, and then updated later in the year when the date is picked by the venue host.

Last Updated: 10/6/15

UPCOMING & ANNUAL EVENTS, PARADES & FESTIVALS

3rd Annual Pink Kiss Breast Cancer Awareness Event
October 10th, 2015
6pm-9pm
Location: Lorraine Tyne, 161 Main Street
Shop, drink and pose on the red carpet of Pink Kiss, a collaborative fundraising event from designer Sarah Graby and the jewelry store Lorraine Tyne. Sarah Graby features her collection of head scarves called "Sparkle My Head Scarves" to celebrate Breast Cancer Awareness month. Complimentary cocktails, glam styling sessions and giveaways await you. This year marks our 3rd year the event is raising money for the Hudson Valley's "Miles Of Hope" Organization.
Free, yet donate!


City of Beacon Pumpkin Carving Contest

Saturday, October 10, 2015
10 am
Location: Pavilion at Beacon Memorial Park
Kids 15 and younger can compete for Top Carver in two age divisions (13 to 15, and 12 and under). Parents should supervise children at all times! Supplies will be provided, but are limited. Sign up ahead of time at City Hall. Organizers insist, no professionals, please.

New York State Sheep & Wool Festival
October 17th - 18th, 2015 
Location: Dutchess County Fairgrounds | Rhinebeck, NY 12572
A lovely sheep and wool festival happening at the Dutchess County Fairgrounds. Learn about and enjoy the animals, find wool fashions like mittens, gloves and sweaters, and shop the market.

Beacon Sloop Club Pumpkin Festival
October 18th, 2015
12pm-5pm
Location: Pete and Toshi Seeger Riverfront Park
The Beacon Sloop Club holds or participates in several festivals and events each year to raise funds for the clubs activities and bring awareness to many environmental and social issues.

City of Beacon Hocus Pocus Parade
Sunday, October 25, 2015

12:30 pm

Location:
Main Street, Beacon

Cost
umed kids start lining up at Peace Park (South Avenue/9D and Main Street) at 12:30 for a parade down Main Street at 1. Trick-or-treating at businesses follows the stroll. Don't forget to check in at the Beacon Flea, too! They'll have some treats for the little goblins.

Information >


Pumpkins in the Park
Jack O'Lantern Lighting

Carving: Tuesday, October 27 to Friday, October 30, 2015, 3 pm to 6 pm
Lighting: Friday, October 30, 2015, 6 pm to 8 pm
Location: Long Dock Park, Beacon waterfront
On afternoons Tuesday to Friday, visit Long Dock Park to put your carving skills to use on pumpkins provided by Scenic Hudson. Stick around Friday evening, when the jack o'lanterns will be set aglow and displayed throughout the park.
Information >

Santa Spottings on Main Street
December 2015
Location: Main Street Shops
Santa comes to coffee shops and restaurants around Beacon. Where will you visit him?



LOTTERY, SEASON PASSES & SIGNUPS

Scenic Hudson Kayak Storage
March 30 - April 17, 2015
This lottery signup is annual, and we covered it here on the blog.

Beacon's New Pool at the Settlement Camp
Registration Starts March 1st, 2015
Season Starts June 29th, 2015





EVENTS THAT ALREADY HAPPENED

These events have passed. Look for them next year!
We move them to the bottom of this Guide to get ready for next year!

City of Beacon's "Easter After Easter" Egg Hunt
Saturday April 25th, 2015
11am - 2pm
Location: Memorial Park
According to the City, Easter is coming later. "Same great fun and better weather! Join us for our a little bit later than Easter Egg Hunt and Spring Fling at Memorial Park."


Beacon Barks Parade
Saturday April 25th, 2015 (rain or shine)
10am - 3pm
Location: Main Street
The 9th Annual Beacon Barks! parade being held on Saturday, April 25, 2015, on Main Street in Beacon.  Beacon Barks! is the street festival for people who love animals, live music, great food, and having fun in the heart of Beacon. Festivities begin at 10:00 am and conclude at 3:00 pm.  Show appreciation for animal shelters, rescue and welfare organizations. It’s free, fun, family-friendly!  Bring your four-legged family members, too!  Local shops and restaurants open their doors to participants (both canine and otherwise) for tasty snacks & treats.  A variety of service providers (such as groomers, vets and many others) offer information and advice on caring for your best friend. Usually held the 3rd week in April of every year.


Ree-Play Sale
Friday, Saturday, Sunday
May 1, 2 3, 2015
9am - 1pm
Location: The University Settlement Camp Theater
724 Wolcott Avenue  (Rt. 9D across from Craig House)
The Ree-Play Sale is one of Beacon's most well known, well attended annual sales for baby and kids gear in the region. Donations pour in from families from all over, and the pickings begin on May 1st for three short days. Those who volunteer to sort the gently used items for sale do get pre-shopping privileges. For sale are gently used baby’s, children’s, and maternity clothing, toys, furniture, outdoor play equipment, bicycles, strollers and other baby-gear, etc.

The Ree-Play Sale the primary fundraiser for its parent organization, Wee Play Community Project,  an advocate for the City of Beacon’s playgrounds, which promotes excellence in children’s and youth programming, and builds an organized coalition of community parents.
Information >


Stony Kill Plant Sale: Vegetable and Herb Plant Sale and Spring Celebration
May 2nd, 2015
11am to 3pm
Location: 79 Farmstead Lane, Wappingers Falls, NY 12590
Get ready for the spring season with vegetables and herbs that were grown in Stony Kill's greenhouse.  Live music – food – children’s activities –  information – demonstrations – gift shop – tours of the farm animals in the barn – tours of the Verplanck Tenant Farmhouse – and much more!
Information >


Obercreek Plant Sale
May 2nd, 2015 10am to 4pm (also on May 9 and 10) 
May 3rd, 2015, 1pm to 5pm
Location: 59 Marlorville Road Wappingers Falls, NY 12590
The Obercreek Farm Standis selling their Certified Organic vegetable and herb plants for your home garden!  They are growing over 60 varieties, traditional and heirloom; check out the line-up below:
Information >


Common Ground Farm Seedling Sale
May 9th, 2015
10am to 3pm
Location: 142 Main Street, Common Greens Garden @ Tito Santana Taqueria
Find Common Ground Farm at the Common Greens Garden at Tito Santana Taqueria on Second Saturday in Beacon for their annual seedling sale, just in time for Mother's Day! Seedlings will include: flowers, tomatoes, cucumbers, melons, kale, greens, herbs and more! All grown by hand & with love in organic potting soil at Common Ground Farm.

Beacon Open Studios
May 16th - 17th, 2015
Location: Shops, Studios and Residences
Beacon Open Studios is a community supported project by artists, volunteers, individuals, and local business. Studio spaces are created around the community where you can drop in during daytime hours. As you walk around town, you will see the big red circle dot that identifies a studio space in a shop or home.
Information >


HEfeSTUS Iron Pour
May 23th, 2015
2pm to 10pm
Location: Hanna Lane (near the Tallix Complex, where parking is available)

Woa. This is an event you don't see very often, so you're going to want to go. It is live casting of hot metal during a day of food from local eateries and live music. Hefestus Iron pour began in 2013 with the idea of bringing together art, history and community.  This year’s all-day festival will include sculpture casting workshops, musical entertainment, local food and several thousand pounds of molten iron.  Local artist and students will be casting iron sculpture from an outdoor furnace in a spectacle of metal and fire that is not to be missed.  Casting is the process in which metal is melted in a furnace and poured from a container or ladle into a mold of ceramic shell or bonded sand. During  Hefestus 2014, over 50 iron castings were poured into molds designed and carved by attendees.
Information >


Beacon Riverfest In The Parks Series (Free)
May 25th, 2015
4pm to 6pm
Location: Memorial Park
Bring a picnic and make sure you're wearing your dance shoes as the first of four free summer concerts kicks off this Memorial Day Weekend. The band is "The Big Takeover" and you've enjoyed their reggae style before in Beacon.


For Goodness Bake
Saturday, June 6th, 2015
Location: Catalyst Gallery 137 Main Street
FOR GOODNESS BAKE (FGB) is an annual pop-up bake sale held in Beacon, New York. Founded in 2013 by friends and Beaconites Kristen Cronin and Tara Tornello, FGB is dedicated to raising funds and awareness for worthy causes within the Hudson Valley. Each FGB bake sale is held for one day only. Scores of the Valley's best professional and amateur bakers donate baked goods for the sale. Past beneficiaries have been the Children's Organ Transplant Association and the Kids R Kids Feeding Program. Once the last doughnut, cookie, or muffin has been sold, FGB closes up shop, hands over 100% of the proceeds to the beneficiary, and vanishes. Like superheroes, but with aprons instead of tights.
Information >

Beacon's City-Wide Yard Sale
Saturday, June 13th, 2015
9am - 3pm
Location:All Over Beacon!
Participating in the yard sale can happen one of two ways - you can register your address as an official yard sale and get on the map (try calling the City of Beacon at (845) 838-5000, or just put stuff out on your yard and tag it. People will surly be driving by and will stop.
Information >


Strawberry Festival
Sunday, June 14th, 2015
12noon - 5pm
Location: Pete and Toshi Seeger Riverfront Park
Strawberry shortcakes, music, vendors. what more do you need in the summer? The Beacon Sloop Club holds or participates in several festivals and events each year to raise funds for the clubs activities and bring awareness to many environmental and social issues.

Cider Week
June 12th - 21st, 2015
Location: Many different events and locations. See the full lineup here.
Cider-lovers rejoice, there is a Cider Week for you! Circulate around all of the events during this week, and increase your knowledge and appreciation of cider pressed in this region. Cider is another old beverage renewed in our day. It was made, stored, and consumed all over the U.S from early times. But eventually, Temperance politics and Prohibition ended legal sales. Apple growers had to replace their cider orchards with “Apple Pie orchards”. Bitter, sour, weird apples that could make great cider lost all value in the States. But real cider is not brewed. There’s no grain, no cooking, and no fast route to high quality. Serious cider is all apple juice, pressed from superior cider varieties. It represents the land that grew that fruit. It takes time and patience. Great beer can be made in weeks; great cider, not. The most complex cider is tannic, like red wine. Its gold color means people tend to chill it. But serious cider from the right fruit deserves to be tasted at about 60F. Also, cider tannins offer antioxidant effects, but with far less alcohol than red wine. Founded by Glynwood, Cider Week was created to revive New York's orchard heritage. The website serves to connect cider makers from New York’s Hudson Valley to buyers from top restaurants, bars, and retail shops across the Hudson Valley region, New York City, and beyond. Through growing awareness of craft cider, Cider Week helps to bring profitability to local orchards while reviving heirloom apple varieties.



Beacon Riverfest In The Parks Series (Free)
Tuesday, June 16th, 2015
6pm to 8pm
Location: Green Street Park (on the other side of Fishkill Creek, this is a park located in the base of a sloping hill)
Bring a picnic and make sure you're wearing your dance shoes! The bands are "Bad Mother Factory" and "Knock Yourself Out."


Local Cider Market & Tasting at Historic Huguenot Street House
June 20th, 2015
Noon - 4pm
Location: Historic Huguenot Street House, 88 Huguenot Street, New Paltz, NY 12561
This cider event in New Paltz is included in this Guide because of the historical value and richness you will get out of attending it. As part of both New York State’s Path Through History Weekend and Hudson Valley Cider Week, Historic Huguenot Street will host a local cider market and tasting on Saturday, June 20. The market will feature 9 Hudson Valley cider makers, including: Hudson Valley Farmhouse Cider (produced at Breezy Hill Orchard and Stone Ridge Orchard), Warwick Valley Winery & Distillery (maker of Doc’s® Draft Ciders, Warwick), Glorie Farm Winery (Marlboro), The Standard Cider Company (owned by Brotherhood Winery, Washingtonville), Aaron Burr Cidery (Wurtsboro), Orchard Hill Cider Mill (located at Soons Orchard, New Hampton), Kettleborough Cider House (New Paltz), Pitchfork Hard Cider (Poughkeepsie), and Angry Orchard (opening a new facility in Walden). As part of the market, Historic Huguenot Street and Kettleborough Cider House will be introducing a historic crab apple hard cider, brewed by Kettleborough in collaboration with HHS. The cider’s use of crab apples is true to how the early founders of New Paltz would have brewed their own cider, which was a popular colonial drink.

Beacon Riverfest Music & Food Festival
Sunday, June 28th, 2015
Noon to 8pm
Location: Riverfront Park (on the other side of the train station)
An entire day of live music and food! A large lineup of bands are playing on 3 stages in Riverfront Park. Kids under 10 get in free, and tickets are available for purchase for adults. Enjoy music, food and crafts. The bands include Sierra Leone’s Refugee All Stars, Tracy Bonham, Sidewalk Chalk, Schwervon, Decora, Gato Loco, Jenny Dee & The Deelinquents, What Moon Things, Breakfast In Fur, Shana Falana, M Shanghai String Band, and Simi Stone.


4th Of July Fireworks, Memorial Park

Saturday July 4th, 2015


NOTE: There is no parade on Main Street.

11am Reading of the Declaration of Independence
A reading of the Declaration of Independence will take place, on Saturday, at 11:00am at City Hall.

3pm till dark
Location: Memorial Park, Beacon
Presented once again by a collaborative community effort by the City of Beacon, Beacon-Fishkill Kwanis Club, The Costellos and I Am Beacon. Bring the whole family to enjoy! Fireworks begin at dusk.

Beacon Riverfest In The Parks Series (Free)
Saturday July 11th, 2015
6pm to 8pm
Location: The Beacon Pool - POOL PARTY! (at the Settlement Camp, 724 Wolcott)
Bring a picnic and make sure you're wearing your dance shoes! The band is "PONTOON."


Beacon Riverfest In The Parks Series (Free)
Thursday July 16th, 2015
6pm to 8pm
Location: South Avenue Park
Bring a picnic and make sure you're wearing your dance shoes! The band is "Jeremy Baum Trio."

Beacon Riverfest In The Parks Series (Free)
Thursday July 23rd, 2015
6pm to 8pm
Location: Long Dock Park (near the train station, but far to the left near paths for Dennings Point)
Bring a picnic and make sure you're wearing your dance shoes! The band is "The Stacks."


Beacon Jazz Fest
Saturday July 25th, 2015
12noon - 6pm
Location: The Pete and Toshi Seeger Riverfront Park
Celebrating Music, Hudson Valley Distilleries, artisan crafts & culture of the Hudson Valley, the Inaugural Beacon Jazz Festival will take place on Saturday, July 25 from noon to 6 PM at The Pete and Toshi Seeger Riverfront Park in Beacon, NY. Presented by Six String Productions, the festival will offer a wealth of musical talent, many with long associations with Beacon and the surrounding region, in addition to great Jazz this event will also double as a Hudson Valley distillery tasting event.   Local craft breweries, cideries and wineries will be represented along with local artisan chefs providing food to complement the event. Musical artists you can expect to hear include Sun of Goldfinger, Karl Berger/Ingrid Sertso Quintet, International Brass & Membrane Corps, Mike Dopazo & The HV All-Stars. The Beacon DJ Grady Salter will also be spinning classic jazz selections all day between acts.

In addition, Hudson Valley distilleries, Wineries, and Cideries, include Dennings Point Distillery,  Hudson Valley Distillery, Albany Distillery,  Dutch Spirits, Taconic Distillery, Tuthilltown, Harvest Spirits, Brotherhood winery, Naked Flock cidery , Bad Seed Cidery will be offering free tastings of their renowned spirits, cider and wine throughout the festival. Other local business providing food and drink at the Beacon Jazz Festival include More Good, Tito Santana, Beacon Bread, The Hop Express, plus many more.
More Information >

http://www.fireflyfeast.com/

Firefly Feast
Saturday, August 1st, 2015
4pm - 9pm
Location: 4 Hanna Lane
The second annual Firefly Feast will have local food, drinks, and music all to benefit Common Ground Farm (kids 12 and under are free!).
More Information and Buy Tickets>


http://www.stonykill.org/events/
The Butterfly Festival
Sunday, August 8th, 2015
11am - 3pm (Rain or Shine!)
Location: 79 Farmstead Lane, Wappingers Falls, NY
Visit the Verplanck Memorial Perennial Garden and learn all about butterflies! Visit the butterfly tent and have a one on one experience with these wonderful creatures! Food – gift shop – children’s activities - information – demonstrations – and much more! (Free)
Information >


The Beacon Sloop Club Annual Corn Festival
Sunday, August 9th, 2015
12noon - 5pm (Rain or Shine!)
Location: Pete and Toshi Seeger Riverfront Park
The Beacon Sloop Club holds or participates in several festivals and events each year to raise funds for the clubs activities and bring awareness to many environmental and social issues. This free festival features fresh picked, ready‐to‐eat local‐grown Hudson Valley sweet corn on the cob, hot chili, watermelon, cold drinks, and other summer treats. Music throughout the afternoon and many free kids activities! (Free)
Information >


https://www.facebook.com/hairdressersdiscoball
The Hairdressers Disco Ball
Sunday, August 23rd, 2015
7pm-10pm
Location:  Mid-Hudson Civic Center
For 2015, the Hairdresser’s Disco Ball and Charity Hair Show goes to the Oscars! Get ready for a blockbuster red-carpet-worthy runway show featuring over-the-top, highly creative hair styles and costumes inspired by Academy Award-winning movies and Hollywood stars. The big show raises funds for HVCS’ HIV/AIDS programs and services and takes place on Sunday, August 23, 2015 at 7:00 pm at the Mid-Hudson Civic Center in downtown Poughkeepsie. You may see your favorite stylist from Beacon participating!

Tickets and Information >
Facebook page for fabulous photos >



Dutchess County Fair
August 25th - 30th, 2015 
Location: Dutchess County Fairgrounds | Rhinebeck, NY 12572
Only one of the best fairs around! Folks from far and wide come to ride the Farris wheel and other rides. A fun date night or night out with the family.


September 12th 2015
9am Registration, 10:30am Walk Begins

Location: Long Dock Park, Beacon NY
Benefiting Hope and Heroes, who funds the life-saving work on childhood cancer and blood disorders at Columbia University Medical Center. Presented by Jessica Salomon, a mother of a Sickle Cell Disease survivor, and Event Coordinator to bring awareness to the community one step at a time.


Hudson Valley Hoptember Harvestfest 
September 12th 2015 
Location: 1167 Noxon Road | Lagrangeville, NY 12540
"Celebrating Everything Hoppy!" The event will feature 30 plus local brewers, music by "Buckeye Rooster, and our Hop smoked BBQ by the award winning "Bacon Brothers" as well as many other Hop Infused Delights

Hudson River Craft Beer Festival
September 19th 2015 
Location: Riverfront Park
This four-hour event will showcase over 200 releases from some of America’s best craft breweries. Attendees will sample beers in an atmosphere filled with live music, delicious food available for purchase, and great vendors.

Beacon Independent Film Festival  
September 18th-20th 2015
Opening Night Friday, 7:30pm
Location: Beacon's University Settlement Camp on Wolcott Avenue (aka 9D)
The Beacon Independent Film Festival (BIFF) showcases creative films in a unique venue, nestled among the trees at the foot of Mount Beacon, NY.